Spraying device



Jan. 6, 1942. A. F. JENKINS 2,269,057

SPRAYING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 10, 1938 4 wadirm WWW;

meme Jan. 6, 1m

'UNITEDV I STATES PATENT" orr cs Alenll derlf'. Jenkins, Balflillomlid.

scams. (01. zoo-140.1)

This invention relates to spraying devices or the like, and more particularlyto the nozzle as semblies of spraygunsofthetypewhichareemployed in atomizing and spraying liquids, such as coating materials or the like.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 184,301, flled January 10, 1938.

The general object of the invention is theprovision of novel and improved nozzle constructions of the class described, which are easyand economical to manufacture and at the same time are capable of being readily bled so as to produce a spray Jet of great accuracy and fineness of atomization; and one which is susceptible of a wide range of adiustability.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel construction of side wing iets for flattening the spray. The use of this novelstruc-- ture and method of manufacture enables the ready application of the clamping ring which is usually employed to secure the nozzle air cap to the body portion of the gun and also permits variations in assembly of the nomle to attain certain sizes and configurations of the spray pattern, and also facilitates the manufacture of the spray provide a forwardly directed'peway it leading to the supplemental Jets of the air cap and the diverging passageway Ii leading to the central aspirating air orifices. Areclprocating valve member I2 cooperates with the valve seat I! to control the e of air through the e II. The forward face It of the body portion of the gun is ordinarily formed in a sin-' gle plane, although within the scope of the invention the construction of the body portion of the gunmayvarywidely.

The inner liquid jnozzle portion is indicated generally by the reference numeral 20 and comprises the central rearwardly projecting nipple which isthreaded as at 2i into the recess I I formed in the forward portion ll of the main body of the gun, which in this embodiment may be made of a forging or die casting of aluminum or other light soft metal. The central portion of the liquid nozzle 20 is provided with a flange 22, the periphery of which may be squared for theapplication of a wrench or other suitable tool for removing and applying this portion of the easilymachinable material such as brass, this element carrying the threads to which the clamping' ring is screwed and also embodying bail'ie means for the better distribution of the air. J "Other objects and features of novelty will become apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompany ing drawing in which several embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. 7

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a nozzle embodying the principles ofthe present invention, and also showingla portion of the body of the spray gun to which thenozzle bly is applied; and Figure 2 is a view in front elevation zleillustratedlnFigurel. i i.

In Figure 1 a portion of .the forward end of the body of a spray gunisindicatedatll and is provided with a liquid chamber or passageway II and a main air eway' Ho. The air passageway is divided adjacent the valve seat it to of the noznozzle to the spray gun. The forward end of the liquid nozzle proper is of a general conical conflguration as indicated at 2| and is provided centrally at the tip thereof "with a liquid orifice 26, the flow of liquidthrough this orifice being controlled b meaus of th needle valve 21 which projects rearwardlyand is operatively connected with the trigger of the gun which'isnot shown herein. but may be of any or conventional construction or may be arranged as shown in my Patents Nos. 2,082,060 and 2,082,061. The intermediate flange 22 is provided with an annular series of passageways 20 which constitute a portion of the communicating means between the air passageway ii in the body of the gun and the 1 forward air chamber 22 formedbetween the conical tip 25 of the liquid nozzle the supplemental air cap 25.

This supplemental air cap 35 is provided with the annular rearwardly extending flange 36 and the walls of which flts around the annular flange N which extends forwardly from the portion 2201 the liquid nozzle. The flange 30 extends rearwardly to abut the intermediate flange 22 of the liquid nozzle and is provided with a radially outwardly directed flange I30" which is spaced from the inner wall 34 of the liquid nozzle is shaped as shown in Figure 1 and terminates short of the converging front walls of the cap so as to provide as much of an enlargement within the air chamber 32 as possible.

The inner air tip 35 in this embodiment is provided with an annular series of openings '5 which surround the annular aspirating air oriflce 4..

of the nozzle. Any number of these openings I may be provided and they may be arranged as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, with diagonally opposite pairs of openings on opposite sides of the central liquid oriflce.

The tip 85 converges forwardly to the plane of the face of the liquid nozzle and the inner margin of the opening therein isspaced from the liquid nozzle tip 25 at a predetermined distance to provide the annular aspirating air oriflce 40. It will thus be seen that there is thereby formed arelatively permanent arrangement for deflnlng the orifice 40 which is adapted to be carried by tachment for the air cap on the member made of renewable bar stock and eliminating the alternative' of providing threads upon the front end of the body portion which would be subject to wear and deterioration.

It is very often convenient to provide nozzles with varying angles of convergence ofithe side wing or spray flattening jets, and the method of construction illustrated inthe drawing provides an optional way of producing a nozzle whereby this object may be attained. This method of manufacture and assembly also facilitates the application of a locking retaining ring of conventional type and comprises a distinct improvement in the production of spray gun nozzles. The

- air cap 42 instead of being provided with integral the inner liquid nomle portion of the nozzle assembly; which is of a relatively small diameter as compared with the air cap of the usual arrangement; and which is secured to the rigidly supported liquid nozzle at a point well forwardly thereon and adjacent the front face of the nozzle assembly. Thus no reliance need be placed upon the accuracy of flt of the usual air cap with relation to the inner liquid nozzle to provide the aspirating Jet of air.

The main air cap of this type of nozzle assembly is indicated generally by the reference numeral 42 and is provided with a central annular surface 31 which fits around the flange 36 of the supplemental air tip 35. .The air cap is provided rearwardly with an outwardly extending annular flange 43 which forms a shoulder about which the inwardly directed flange 44 of the clamping ring 45 may engage. The clamping ring 45 is threaded to the outer periphery of an intervening annular thread carrying element III] which is disposed between the flange 22 of the liquid nozzle and the forward face of the body of the gun. The inner annular surface ill of the insert Ill fits around the central projecting portion 2 of the front end of the gun and is sealed against the rearward stepped face ill of the body portion I. as by means of the gaskets I I5.

An inwardly disposed ring or washer I I6 is held by the flange III of the member Ill, so as to battle and equalize the distribution of the cen-' tral air supply passing through the passageway l5 before it enters the passageways 30. The annular intermediate member H0 is also provided with the annular recess or forward annular chamber I20 which is placed in communication with the air supply passing through the passageway l4 in the body of the gun by means of the series of holes l2l. An inwardly projecting flanged bame ring I22 and an outwardly projecting ring I23 are fitted within the chamber III in order to equalize the distribution of the auxiliary jet air supply upon opposite sides of the air can.

The intermediate annular member m is preferably made of brass or some other durable readily machinable metal and is provided around its outer periphery with the screw threads I26 upon which may be screwed the clamping ring 45 which is provided with the flange orshoulder 44 surrounding the sholder 43 of the air cap. This arrangement not only provides a convenient disposition of the equalizing air bames but also enables the placing of the screw threads for the atside wing jets may be furnished with built-up soldered jet assemblies which are designated generally by the reference numeral 50, and having supplemental air passageways 52 leading thereto from the baliled air chambers in the insert I II. In order to Sup ort the side jet members 5| there are formed upon diametrically opposite sides of the forward face of the air can 42; the projecting bosses it in the outer ends of which are formed the inclined substantially semi-circular grooves 9|. The bosses 90 are provided with the passageways 52 which provide communication with the source of air for the auxiliary Jets. To form the side wings of the nozzle there are provided cylindricalv members 92 which are drilled forwardly and rearwardly to provide the proper passageways of air therein indicated generally by the numeral 93, and to receive the plug member .5 which provides a rear closure for the wing and a centeringstemfortheannularjet. Thesidewallof themember 921s also drilledasat 96 to provide communication with the passageways 52. In assembling this type of nozzle air cap the members 92 may be disposed at vary n distances from the axis of the nozzle and may be secured in the desired position within the groove 9! by-soldering or any other suitable method. The angle of convergence of the members 92 may also be altered by machining the groove 9| at a different slope. In assembling the nozzle in this manner not only can the width and angularity of the side wings be varied, but the clamping ring 45 may be applied to the air cap 42 against the shoulder 43 before the wing members 92 are applied and thus the clamping ring may be permanently attached to the air cap. Also the parts of the air cap may be drilled and machined more readily from standard bar stock, instead'of having to employ forgings in constructing the cap. It will also be noted that the bosses or pedestals 9| may be made somewhat narrower than the cylindrical wing nozzle members 92 and thus provide less obstruction for the eddy currents of air which move inwardly across the face of the central nozzle from the periphery toward the axial main jet during the spraying operations. Thus an added streamlining" effect is secured by means of this construction which increases the efllciency of the nozzle.

It will be seen that by the various provisions of the present invention,.anovel and improved spray gun nozzle has been attained which will ensure an accurately formed, finely atomized, and readily controllable spray. Furthermore, in

certain embodiments of the invention, the accument without impairing the configuration of the been described.

fluid spray. Other attendant advantageous features have also been provided and these include the provision of novel means for attaching the air. cap of the nozzle to the body of the spray gun and also means and methods of manufacturing the various parts of the nozzle to more efllciently attain the other objects which have "It will be understood that various changes and modifications in the embodiments illustrated and described herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention 'as'defined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A spray gun of the class described comprising, in combination, a body member having liquid and air passageways therein and a nozzle assembly at the forward end thereof, said nozzle assembly comprising an inner liquid nozzle element threaded axially into the forward end of said body member and provided with a liquid passageway communicating with the liquid passageway in the body member, an outer air cap element surrounding said inner liquid nozzle element and provided with air passageways leading to oppositely disposed spray flattening jet orifices, a radial flange extending from said liquid nozzle element at a point spaced forwardly of the front face of the body member, an annular .element disposed between said radial flange and the front face of said body member and adapted to be clamped in position when said liquid nozzle element is screwed into the body member, threads on the outer periphery of said annular element, a threaded clamping ring attached to said air cap member and adapted to be screwed onto said annular member, passageways formed in and leading through said annular member for providing communication between the air passageway in said body member and said air cap, and flanged overlapping baffle rings in the passageways of said annular element for equalizing the flow of air to opposite orifices in said air cap.

2. In a spray gun for coating materials or the like, a nozzle assembly at the forward end thereof for the projection of an atomized spray of material therefrom, said nozzle assembly comprising an inner centrally disposed nozzle element having a substantially conical tip, an axial liquid passageway therein terminating forwardly in a central liquid discharge orifice in the front end of the tip, an annular air chamber within said nozzle element and surrounding said central liquid passageway, a radially extending flange formed upon said nozzle element and having a forwardly extending annular flange formed thereon, spaced from the outer periphery thereof, and enclosing said annular air chamber, a cap element having a rearwardly directed annular flange fitted snugly upon the outer surface of said first named annular flange and a forward wall provided with an orifice communicating with said air chamber for the projection of a jet of aspirating and atomizing air adjacent the liquid orifice, a transverse external annular shoulder formed on the annular flange of the cap and spaced forwardly of said radial flange on the inner liquid nozzle element, whereby a space is provided for the insertion of a tool for prying said cap from said element, an outer annular air cap provided with means for projecting auxiliary spray flattening air jets and adapted to be secured to the gun body, said outer air cap fitting snugly around the outer surface of the rearwardly directed flange of the inner cap.

.3. An air cap element for a spray gun-nozzle of the type described comprising, in combination, a substantially circular base member adapted to be attached to the forward end of the spray gun and provided centrally with an opening for the central spray jet, grooves formed in said base member upon diametrically opposite sides thereof and inclined forwardly and axially inwardly at a predetermined angle, side jet members $01- dered respectively in said grooves and disposed at a predetermined distance apart, communicating passageways in said base member and in said jet members for the supply of compressed air 'a radial flang formed on the rear portion of said base member, a clamping ring of an internal diameter which is smaller than said flange but larger than the diameter of said base member without the side jet members, said clamping ring being applied to said annular flange and provided with means for attachment to said nozzle.

4. In the manufacture of spray gun nozzles having an air cap member provided with a shouldered base element, a cooperating clamping ring surrounding the same and side wingjet elements at the forward end thereof projecting radially outwardly beyond said clamping ring, the method of assembly of said air cap member which comprises the steps of applying said ring over the forward end of said base element, moving it rearwardly until it abuts the shoulder on the base element, and then soldering the side wing jet elements in place at th forward end of said base element.

5. A spray gun of the class described comprising, in combination, a body member having liquid and air passageways therein and a nozzle assembly at the forward end thereof, said nozzle assemblylcomprising an inner liquid nozzle element threaded axially into the forward end of said body member and provided with a liquid passageway communicating with the liquid passageway in the body member, an outer air cap element surrounding said inner liquid nozzle element and provided with air passageways leading to oppositely disposed spray flattening jet orifices, a radial flange extending from said liquid nozzle element at a point spaced forwardly of the front face of the body member, a unitary self-contained annular lement disposed between said radial flange and the front face of said body member and adapted to be clamped in position when said liquid nozzle element is screwed into the body member, threads on the outer periphery of said annular element, a threaded clamping ring attached to said air cap member and adapted to be screwed onto said annular member, openings formed in and leading through said annular member for providing communication between the air passageway in said body member'and the passageways leading to the spray flattening orifices in said air cap.

6. A spray gun of the class described comprising, in combination, a body member having liquid and air passageways therein and a nozzle assembly at the forward end thereof, said nozzle assembly comprising an inner liquid nozzle element threaded axially into the forward end of saidbody member and provided with a liquid passageway communicating with the liquid passageway in the body member, an outer air cap element surrounding said inner liquid nozzle element and provided with air passageways leading to oppositely disposed spray flattening jet orifices, a radial flange extending from said liquid nozzle element at a point spaced forwardly of the front face of the body member, a unitary self-contained annular-element disposed between said radial flange and the front face of said body member and adapted to be clamped in position when said liquid nozzle element is screwed into the body member, threads on the outer periphery of said annular element, a threaded clamping ring attached to said air cap member and adapted to be screwed onto said annular member, openings formed in and leading through said annular member for providing communication between the air passageway in said body member and the passageways leadingto the spray flattening orifices in said air cap, an annular forwardly facing recess in said element with which said openings communicate, annular baflie rings disposed in said recess and having overlapping radial flanges.

7. A spray gun of the class described comprising, in combination, a body member having liquid and air passageways therein and a nozzle assembly at the forward end thereof, said nozzle assembly comprising an inner liquid nozzle element threaded axially into the forward end of said body member and provided with a liquid passageway communicating with the liquid passageway in the body member, an outer air cap element surrounding said inner liquid nozzle element and provided with air passageways leading to oppositely disposed spray flattening jet orifices, a radial flange extending from said liquid nozzle element at a point spaced forwardly of the front face of the body member, a unitary self-contained annular element disposed between said radial flange and the front face of said body member and adapted to be clamped in position when said liquid nozzle element is screwed into the body member, threads on the outer periphery of said annular element, a threaded clamping ring attached to said air cap member and adapted to be screwed onto said annular member,

openings formed in and leading through said annular member for providing communication between the air passageway in said body member and the passageways leading to the' spray flattening orifices in said air cap, said body member being formed of a relatively soft and light material, and said annular interposed threaded element being made of a relatively hard material, said annular element being relatively permanently secured to the body member, all whereby repeated connection and disconncction of the air cap member from the gun will not cause wear or damage to the relatively soft material of the gun body.

8. An air cap element for a spray gun nozzle of the type described comprising, in combination, a substantially circular base member adapted to be attached to the forward end of the spray gun and provided centrally with an opening for the central spray jet, a radially outwardly projecting flange on said member providing a forwardly facing shoulder at the rear portion thereof, a clamping ring adapted to seat about said shoulder and be threadedv to other portions of the nozzle to retain said air cap element thereon, a pair of forwardly projecting bosses formed on diametrically opposite sides of said base member and provided with air passageways therein and grooves of cylindrical contour and predetermined angularity with respect to the axis of the nozzle formed in the outer faces thereof, a cylindrical side jet member soldered in each of said grooves and drilled to provide air passageways therein communicating with the passageway of the boss and opening through an end of said member to provide an orifice for the discharge of the spray flattening side jets, the internal diameter of said clamping ring being somewhat larger than the air cap element before the side jet members are soldered thereto, but smaller than the diameter of the air cap element including said side jet members.

ALEXANDER F. JENKINS. 

